Espanyol made an ideal start to their efforts to claim their first win of the calendar year, taking the lead through Roberto Fernandez’s 15th-minute header.
A well-worked move created the space and time for left-back Carlos Romero to pick out Fernandez, who showed greater determination than his marker to power a header past the unmoved Antonio Sivera.
After conceding first for the ninth time in 11 away league games, Alaves showed great character to hit back through Antonio Blanco shortly before the 30th minute.
The midfielder was well placed on the edge of the box to control Marko Dmitrovic’s punch out before he drilled a low shot through a crowd of players and beyond the unsighted goalkeeper.
With the game finely balanced at half-time, the two sides made cautious starts to the second period before Alaves’ Carles Alena created the half’s first meaningful chance after the hour mark, leading a breakaway before teeing up Youssef Enríquez, whose heavy touch allowed Dmitrovic to close down the angle.
Espanyol ultimately failed to take heed of that warning, with a piece of complacent defending gifting the visitors the lead.
The persistent Toni Martinez pounced on Leandro Cabrera’s weak header back to the goalkeeper, before cutting the ball back for Lucas Boye to guide a simple finish into the awaiting net.
Staring down the barrel of another defeat, Manolo Gonzalez’s charges thought their desperate search for a late leveller had yielded a reward when Kike Garcia headed in against his former club, only for his celebrations to be spoiled by the assistant’s offside flag.
Eduardo Coudet’s side ultimately dug deep for the remaining nervy minutes to end their eight-game winless league run on the road with their first away win against Espanyol since March 2002.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Antonio Blanco (Alaves)
